Last



Sept. 15. 1925. 1,553,500

M. A. BLUM LAST Filed Jan. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1925 M. A. BLUM LAST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1924 Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

MANUEL A, :sLUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAST.

AppIication filed January 5, 719 24. Serial No. $84,568.

To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that MANUEL A. BLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, has invented new and useful Improvements in Lasts, of which the following is a specification. I

The present invention relates to lasts for boots and shoes, and more particularly to the type of last which is divided to form several relatively movable parts, whereby the last may be collapsed to facilitate its removal from the shoe. 3 A

An object of the invention is to provide a construction which will permit the applica tion of the last to the shoe and its. removal therefrom without breaking the upper or imposing upon the seams, strains tending to displace the same and to misshape the shoe.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a last which, by'reason of its con struction, may be cheaply manufactured and readily operated; to afford a locking means which will retain the parts in their proper relative positions when the last is 1n use, and further to provide a slngle means for collapsing and expanding the last which will serve to vary both the length and width of the last when actuated.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing certain sections of the fore part relatively displaced and with a side section of the fore part removed in order to clearly disclose the interior construction. 7

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the relative position of the parts of the last when the same is partially collapsed and is about to be removed from orinserted into a shoe.

Figure 6 is a sectional view 66 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1. I j

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, the last is of a type comprising a fore part 10, a heel or counterpart 11, and an expanding part 12 interposed be.

on the line tween the heel and fore part. These parts may be made of wood, metal or suitablefibrous material. I

The fore part is preferably collapsible, or, in other words,transversely contractible and expansible to facilitate its insertion into and removed from a shoe. It should also be constructed so that when set up, the surface is substantially unbroken to provide a contin'uoussupporting surface for the shoe. In order to obtain this lateral expansion, any desirable-arrangement of parts may be employed, the construction shown in the drawings having been found to be particularly useful and comprising side sections 13, 14: separated by an intermediate wedge, sec? tion 15. The side sections are connected to the wedge section 15 by means ofa cross pin 17 (Figure 7) extending through an opening 18 in the center section and having upturned ends 17 fitting into longitudinal slots or grooves .19. The grooves are partially closed by means of metallic strips 20 secured at their ends to the face of the side sections, as by means of screws 21, (Figure 4) and extending downwardly over theupper edge of the grooves whereby they serve to engage the upturned end 17 of the cross pins 17 and prevent the separation of the several sections of the last fore part. As will be noted in Figure 4, the central section and the two side sections are relatively movable longitudinally of the last. In order to guide the sections in this sliding movement, which serves to vary the length s of the last, the central sectionhas on each side face thereof a key or rib 22 which fits into the registering groove 19 and thereby retains the sections in the same horizontal plane as the center section is moved forwardly and rearwardly.

It will be understood, of course, that the particular means employed for collapsing and expanding the last fore part may bemodified without departing from the invention. The preferred means, however,comprises a wedge, such as the section15, serving to move the two additional sections, such as the side sections 13 and" l lurelative to one another transversely of the last.

The lateral expansion of the last, as well as the longitudinal expansion of the same,

to vary the last "length, are preferably accomplished by a common means, which, in the present instance, is the. intermediate expanding member 12, It will be noted that the ferred construction, the 'hinge plate 3 L forward face of the heel part and the rear end surface 26 of the fore part, particularly of the central secti'on thereof,i

slightly converge downwardly and the engaging surfaces of the intermediate part part 12(is important, although the invention is not limitedwto this precise detail. The expanding pa'rt'comprises a lower portion 28am an upper portion 29 pivoted thereto, inzth'efpresent instance by means of side plates,.-30,"secured to the lower pertion and having, openings; receiving pintles 31 e2;- tendi1ig .j, into the" upper portion and upon which the latter rocks The upperportion carries on-its top surface a pin-32'extending through 'aslot 33in a locking plate 84:, wh-ichvis bifurcated at its-forward end and provided with eyes-35, through which pass a pivot pin: 35" secured to a plate 35", the latterbeingafiiXed to; the fore. part. It will be understood that the two" plates 34 and 37' constitutea leaf-hinge, by means .of whichth'e fore part and the expanding part are pivotally"connected;' The plate 34 of the ihinge i's reta ined 'in engagement with the intermediate or expanding part' 12by means theipin 32 extending through the; slot 33"therein; the pin carrying ,a cap flO pre- 'venting separation of the hinge and last part andperrnittingflthe latter to move relative to the hinge as it'is ins'erted intoland" withdrawn from theilast.

When the last is in use the" two portions of the expanding part are in the relative positions shown in Figures '1, 2 and 3, and for the purpose of facing the expanding part, as well as limiting the rocking movement of its top portion, facing plates 42 "and l3 'areiprovided,"the edges of which abut when the part is positioned in the last.

T01 retainth'e parts of the last against displaement when "the last is in use, a. suitable locking 'means" is"provided'. n1 the-pre- 15 extended? rearward'ly so that its end portion 3%. fits beneath a leafs'pring 36"'secured at 37 i1i'a pocket 38"for1ned" in .the heel The spring formed with a horizontally extending terminal portion 36 beneath which theflplate 34Pfits; I The end is turned upwardlytzand"'rearwardlypas at *36, so

that the: spring may be '.--freely "retracted to permit theexpanding part 'to be withdrawn from the last from the position shown in Fi ure 1 to the ositionshown inFi' ure 5.

T C vhth' the expanding part thus withdrawn,

the heel .part"'1nay'be removed from the shoe. It will be noted that as the expander 12 is raised, the central section 15 of the fore part is retracted, thereby simultaneous 1yvaryingthe-width of the last. This is an important feature of the invention, since the actuation of the expanding part produces two results, namely, the longitudinal collapsing of the last,stha t is, thereduct-ionin length thereof, and also the'va-r-iationi-n the last width. v

The operation of the'last is as-follows: hen thelast is about to beinsertedin a shoe, the' seetionsof-the fore part are arranged substantially as shown in Figure 5, and with the expanding'part -12=fullj withdrawn, from't-heshoe. The counter or heel part is theninserted, andwitlr the parts in this relative position, the last is approximately one half inch shorter than its f-normal length and about one-quarter inch narrower infthe-vamp and toe, it being noted that the center or expanding section ofthe fore'part 15 is slightly'retracted: Such manufacturing. operations as may be desirable before the-expansion of the'last, as, for instance, theplaoingvof'the seams in proper position, may thenbe readily performed on theshoe; The expanding or center part 12 of the last is then pressed downwardly, and

iirits'continued movement from-the posi tion shown in Figure 5 will inove the centerisectionaof the fore part-forwardlyythiis 'expandinglhe last both inlength and in width. The 1?ear-e1id*-of tliehinge pl-ate 'fit locking" the parts in their proper-position:

Then the 'la'st'is to be collapsed, thecenter part" 1'2 is'raised to the positionshown in Figure 5.. As this part is raisedythe two portions thereof will fmove relative to one another about'the pivot pins 31 andthe pin 32 will slide-for-wardlyin the" slQt SS' 'of the hinge plate. This op'eration is accomplished' without" imposing any strain upon the shoe. W'hen the'expandingpartis fully fore' part maybe withdrawn-by sliding it 'furthe'r rearward-Ly so thatthe sections of the fore part are '-in the relative position In order to retainthe partsof the last 'to'get'herwhen the sameis not-in usegla substantially U-shaped clip- 45 has its parallel arms 4:5"extending through openings' in the heel part and registering openings in-the "severalsections of the fore part." This clip "serves as convenient means formaintaining the" last assembled when not in use;

It" should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the structure llh") illustrated and described without departing from the invention.

- continuous unbroken surface in transverse planes. 2. A divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part, and an expanding part removably interposed between the aforesaid parts and adapted to vary the length of the last, said fore part including means operable upon insertion and withdrawal of said expanding part to vary the width of said fore part.

3. A divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part, and an interposed expanding part adapted to separate the aforesaid parts and thereby to vary the length of the last, said fore part having two sections rela tively movable transversely of the last upon movement of said expanding part to vary the width as well as the length of the last. 4. A divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part, and an expanding part interposed between the aforesaid parts and adapted, upon insertion and withdrawal, to vary the length of the last, said fore part having two sections relatively movable transversely of the last upon insertion and withdrawal of the expanding part to vary the width of the last. 5. A divided last comprising a fore part, including two sections relatively movable transversely of the last to vary the width thereof, a heel part, and an expanding part interposed between the fore part and the heel part, and means operatively connected with said expanding part adapted to move the sections of the fore part when the expanding part is actuated, and to fill the surface space between said two sections of the fore part.

6. A divided last comprising a fore part,

including two sections relatively movable transversely of the last to vary the wldth thereof, a heel part, and an expanding part removably interposed between the fore part and the heel part, and means operatively connected with said expanding parts to relatively move the sections of the fore part when the expending part is inserted or withdrawn.

7. A divided last comprising a fore part, including two sections relatively movable transversely of the last to vary the width thereof, a heel part, and an expanding part interposed between the fore part and the heel part, and wedge means operatively connected with said expanding part adapted to when the expanding part is actuated, said wedge means including a section for said fore part adapted to be positioned in the space between said two sections. r i

8. A divided last comprlsing a including two sections relatively movable transversely of the last to vary the width thereof, a heel part, and an expanding part removably interposed between the fore part and the heel part, and wedge means operatively connected with said expanding part to move the sections of the fore part when the expanding part is inserted or withdrawn.

9. A divided last comprising a fore part, transversely adjustable to vary the width thereof a heelpart, an expanding part in.

terposed between the aforesaid parts {and adapted by engagement therewith to vary the length of the last and to vary-thev width of the fore part, said fore part when expanded having a substantially continuous uninterrupted surface in transverse planes. 10. A divided last comprising a fore part,

fore part, c

I relatively move the sections of the fore part transversely adjustable to vary. the width thereof, a heel part, an expanding part removably 1nterposedbetween theaforesaid H parts and adapted by engagement therewith to. vary the length of the last and to vary the width of the fore part.

11. A divided last comprising a fore'part, a heel part, said fore part being transversely. adjustable to vary the width of the last and having when expanded a substantially uninterrupted surface, and a common means serving to vary the width of the last fore part and to vary the length of the last.

12. A divided last comprising a fore part, a heel part, said fore part being transversely adjustable to vary the width of the last, and a common means serving upon introduction into and withdrawal from the last to vary the width of the last fore part and to vary the length of the last.

13. A divided last comprising a fore part, including side sections, a central wedge section movable longitudinally of. the last relative to said side sections and serving upon such movement to vary the width of said fore part, said wedge section being adapted to fill the space in the planes of the surface of the last fore part between the said sections when the latter are moved apart, a heel part, and an expanding part interposed between the heel part and the fore part, said expanding part being movable relative to said heel part to vary the length of the last and serving also to actuate said wedge member of the fore part to vary the width of the latter.

1 1. A divided last comprising a fore part including side sections and a central section movable longitudinally of the last relative to said side sections, said wedge section bein'giadaptedto fillt he space'in theplanesof the'surface of the last fore part between thersaid sectionswhen the latter are rnoved apart; means on said sections for guiding the central section-in its movement, said central sectionserving' asa wed-gemeans to vary the; width of saidfore part when moved relative tosaid s'idetsectlons s 15; Adivided lastcomprisingea fore part including a plurality of longitudinal sections 'relat-ively movable longitudinally of the-vlast, a heel part, an expandin g part adapted to be interposed'between said heel part and said fore part, said exp andingp art being connected to one of said fore part aforesaid parts, said *expanding partibeing pivotallyconnected to the fore part; a pro ection on -said expanding part and a catch on'the' heelpart adapted-to be engaged by said projection when the'expanding part 1s moved into operative position and'serving toholdthe expandingpart in such posltion.

.myhand.

17. A divided last comprising a heel part,- a fore part, and a wedgeshap'edexpanding part adapted to be interposed between thd aforesaid parts; said expanding part being pivotally connected to the fore part, 'a projection on said expanding p'art" and a spr ng" catch on thehee-l part adapted tobe'engageu by said projection when theexpanding'part is moved into operative position and serving to hold the-expandingpart in such posi tion:

18. A dividedlast comprising a fore-part, a heel part, an expanding part removahly interposed between the aforesaid parts-and adapted to vary-the length o'ftlie last, said fore part including means operable uponin sertion-and withdrawal of saidexpand-ing part to vary the width of said fore'part', and means for locking said expanding part in position when inserted in th'e'last. a

19. A divided last comprisinga forepart, transversely adjustable .to vary, thdwidtli thereof, a heel part, an expanding partiremovably interposed between'the aforesaid parts and adapted by engagement therewith to vary. the length 'of'thelast andto vary thewidth of the fore partfand means'fo'r locking the expanding part inposition when inserted in the last. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set MANUEL A. BLUM. Q 

